HB834: HB834 Cedartown, City of; Redevelopment Powers Law; provide for a referendum

Georgia's Redevelopment Powers Law (O.C.G.A. Chapter 44 of Title 36) lets cities and counties fund redevelopment projects by creating tax allocation districts and issuing tax allocation bonds, but a local government can only use those powers if the General Assembly authorizes it and voters agree. This bill grants that authorization to the City of Cedartown in Polk County. The authorization does not take effect automatically. The bill requires the city's election superintendent to hold a referendum on the Tuesday after the first Monday in November 2025, asking voters to approve or reject the city's use of these redevelopment powers. If more than half of the votes cast are in favor, the authorization becomes effective immediately. If voters reject it, or the election is not held as described, the authorization never takes effect and the whole Act automatically repeals on the following January 1. The city must pay the cost of the election.

• Authorizes the City of Cedartown to use all powers under Georgia's Redevelopment Powers Law (O.C.G.A. Chapter 44, Title 36), including creating tax allocation districts and issuing tax allocation bonds.
• Requires a public referendum in Cedartown on the Tuesday after the first Monday in November 2025 before the authorization can take effect.
• Sets rules for publicizing the election, including notice in the county's official legal organ 90 days before and weekly for two weeks before the vote.
• Makes the redevelopment authorization effective immediately only if more than half of votes cast favor approval.
• Automatically repeals the entire Act on the following January 1 if voters reject it or the election is not properly held.
• Assigns the cost of holding the referendum to the City of Cedartown.

Residents and registered voters of the City of Cedartown, who will decide the outcome in a referendum; city officials and the election superintendent, who must organize and certify the vote; and property owners or developers within any future tax allocation districts the city might create.

If voters approve, Cedartown could use tax allocation bonds and special redevelopment districts to fund projects like blight removal or infrastructure improvements, tools currently unavailable to the city. If voters reject the measure, the city gains no new powers and the law disappears from the books.

• Section 1 authorizes Cedartown to exercise all powers under the Redevelopment Powers Law, including community redevelopment, tax allocation districts, and tax allocation bonds, as permitted by Article IX, Section II, Paragraph VII(b) of the Georgia Constitution.
• Section 2 requires a referendum on the Tuesday after the first Monday in November 2025, sets public notice requirements in Polk County's official legal organ, and specifies the exact ballot question wording.
• Section 2 also states that approval by more than half of votes cast makes Section 1 effective immediately, while rejection or a failed election triggers automatic repeal of the entire Act on the following January 1.
• Section 3 sets the Act's general effective date as upon the Governor's approval or upon becoming law without approval, except where Section 2 governs.
• Section 4 repeals all conflicting laws.

1. 2025-05-14Effective Date 2025-05-14
2. 2025-05-14Act 339
3. 2025-05-14House Date Signed by Governor (House)
4. 2025-04-08House Sent to Governor (House)
5. 2025-04-02Senate Passed/Adopted (Senate)
6. 2025-04-02Senate Committee Favorably Reported (Senate)
7. 2025-03-31Senate Read and Referred (Senate)
8. 2025-03-31House Passed/Adopted (House)

• Trey Kelley (R, HD-016)Primary sponsor

1. PassedHouse voteMarch 31, 2025

   165 yea, 0 nay (10 not voting, 5 absent)

   Local Calendar Without Hbs 851 & 852: House Vote #342

2. PassedSenate voteApril 2, 2025

   55 yea, 1 nay

   Supplemental Local Consent Calendar: Senate Vote #400

• local government powers
• redevelopment
• tax allocation districts
• referendum
• Cedartown